Kate shows off new royal style in Down Under tour

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, greets well-wishers following a reception with her husband, Britain's Prince William (not pictured), at the Sydney Opera House, April 16, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

CHIC BANANA

Kate mixed things up, with block color outfits in bright shades straight from the crayon box: Canary yellow, vibrant green, sky blue, bright red. The standout look from the tour had to be the pencil dress in fluorescent yellow by Roksanda Ilincic.

William wasn't sure he liked it: Kate told reporters he remarked that it made her "look like a banana." But fashion editors were thrilled by the choice.

"It's a color favored by the queen, and designed to allow her to stand out in a crowd," said Avril Mair of Harper's Bazaar. "I liked her Emilia Wickstead aquamarine dress for the same reason. She carries off color brilliantly and I'd like to see her wear more of it."

DIPLOMATIC DRESSING

Dressing for state visits isn't just about glitz and glamor: It's also a time-honored royal tradition of paying tribute to the host country. Like Queen Elizabeth II and the late Princess Diana before her, Kate incorporated elements of her host nations into her wardrobe.

A bespoke black Jenny Packham dress worn to a state reception in New Zealand was adorned with a silver fern - the country's national emblem. While sticking to her go-to British labels like LK Bennett and Hobbs, Kate also showed off a white cotton dress from the Australian brand Zimmerman, as well as a navy tweed suit by New Zealand-born designer Rebecca Taylor.